By Associated Press - Saturday, October 13, 2018

PHOENIX (AP) - The Latest on Arizona weather (all times local):

3:15 p.m.

Heavy rainfall closed the Arizona State Fair on Saturday and slowed traffic across metro Phoenix.

Fair officials said on Twitter that the closure due to weather was the first “in recent memory” and that they noted that sunny skies are forecast for Sunday. The fair opened Oct. 5 and runs through Oct. 28.

Scattered street closures were reported in Phoenix and several suburbs, and runoff on a low-lying portion of Interstate 10 in west Phoenix prompted the Arizona Department of Transportation to advise drivers to avoid the area until the water subsided after about an hour.

The National Weather Service said the rainfall Saturday made the month Phoenix’s wettest October on record and the city’s 10th wettest month ever.

The weather service said Phoenix had 1.32 inches (3.35 centimeters) of rain by 1:38 p.m. for a total of 4.45 inches (11.3 centimeters) of rain so far in October.

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National Weather Service says heavy rainfall Saturday made the month Phoenix’s wettest October on record and the city’s 10th wettest month ever.

Meanwhile, authorities say water has subsided and conditions are normal again on Interstate 10 in west Phoenix where runoff flooded a low-lying section of the highway. It remained open but authorities for about an hour advised drivers to avoid the area of 43rd Avenue.

The weather service says Phoenix had 1.32 inches (3.35 centimeters) of rain by 1:38 p.m. Saturday for a total of 4.45 inches (11.3 centimeters) of rain so far in October.

Forecasters say gradual clearing of the heaviest rain is expected through Saturday afternoon but that a threat of more rain would continue through the night.

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1:25 p.m.

Heavy rainfall Saturday flooded a low-lying portion of Interstate 10 in Phoenix and closed some local streets.

The Arizona Department of Transportation said both directions of I-10 were closed at 43rd Avenue on the city’s west side and that drivers should avoid the area.

The National Weather Service said it recorded 1.17 inches (3 centimeters) of rain by 1 p.m., setting a record for Phoenix for the date and making the month the second wettest October on record for Arizona’s most populous city.

Flash flood watches and warnings and flood advisories remained in effect across much of Arizona as moderate showers continued into the afternoon.

Forecasters said the rainfall would decrease through Saturday evening but not end until evening.

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12:30 p.m.

The National Weather Service says Saturday’s heavy rainfall in Phoenix broke the record for the date and made this month the second wettest October on record with at least 4.1 inches (10.4 centimeters) of rain.

?The weather service says it measured 0.97 inches (2.5 centimeters) of rain at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport as of noon Saturday as flash flood watches and warnings and flood advisories remained in effect across much of Arizona.

The old Phoenix rainfall record for Oct. 13 was 0.16 inch (0.4 centimeter). The city’s record rainfall for October was 4.4 inches (11.2 centimeters) in 1972.

Moderate showers continued into the afternoon across central Arizona, with forecasters saying the rainfall would decrease through Saturday evening but not end until evening.

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11:20 a.m.

The National Weather Service on Saturday issued flash flood warnings for Maricopa County in south-central Arizona and Pinal County in southeastern Arizona due to heavy rain falling in metro Phoenix and other desert communities.

The warnings said radar and rain gauges indicated that up to 1.5 inches (4 centimeters) of rain had already fallen and that up to 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) of additional rain was possible.

Areas expected to experience flooding included Phoenix and numerous suburbs along with Casa Grande and other Pinal County and portions of Interstates 10 and 17.

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